Victoria police are keeping a protective eye on Victoria’s Muslim community in the wake of the foiled Canada Day bomb plot.
RCMP said the pair arrested in connection with the plot were “inspired by al-Qaida ideology,” although there is no indication they received support from any international terrorist organizations.
Izudeen Seidu, membership director for Masjid Al-Iman, the mosque at 2218 Quadra St., said police have been in touch to let them know they are watching out for the safety of the building and those who attend it.
“The police are protecting us,” Seidu said. “They are going to keep an eye on us because this kind of story might aggravate people to do something to hurt the mosque.”
Victoria police spokesman Const. Mike Russell confirmed police were in contact with mosque officials after Monday’s arrests “just to let them know we are there, we are available. And if anybody has any concerns, we can come over and chat.”
On Monday in Abbotsford, RCMP arrested former Victoria resident John Stewart Nuttall, 38, and his partner, Amanda Marie Korody, 30. They face a number of charges in connection with allegations they planned to set off bombs at the B.C. legislature during Canada Day.
Nuttall’s lawyer, Tom Morino, said his client had converted to Islam and embraced the Muslim faith, but he was not aware of any mosque with which he is affiliated.
Nobody in the Victoria Muslim community seems to know anything about Nuttall and Korody.
Seidu said the Muslim community in Victoria consists of only about 100 families. None has spoken of knowing the pair.
“I don’t think I’ve ever even seen them in the mosque,” said Seidu, a 12-year Victoria resident. “Nobody knows them.”
He hopes nobody will think ill of the mosque or its worshippers.
“We just want to tell people in Victoria the mosque is a very peaceful place,” Seidu said. “We go there to pray and spread a good message, not any kind of message to harm people.
“Our door is always open to anyone who wants to know the kind of religion we do,” he said.
Progressive Muslims Institute Canada, which promotes liberal and secular values, urged Muslims to denounce armed jihad ideology.
“Enough is enough,” said Salma Siddiqui, the group’s director, in a statement. “It’s time for Canadian Muslims to come forward at large and reject violent ideology without any ifs and buts, and they should not wait for any horrible thing to happen on Canadian soil.”
Nuttall and Korody are in custody and face charges of conspiracy to place an explosive device with intent to cause death or injury to assist a terrorist group. They also face charges of possession of an explosive device with intent to injure life and property and to do so for the benefit of terrorists.
